Vacuum and circulatory system for heating



No. 750,158. PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904,

G. L.- BOTTUM. VACUUM AND GIROULATORY SYSTEM FOR HEATING.

' I APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1902. 170- MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 PATENTED JAN. 19; 1 19 04. e. L. BOTTUM. VACUUM 'AND GIRGULATORY SYSTEM -POR' HEATING.

APBLIOATION FILED MAY 5. 1902.

2 BHBBTS-BHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

4 Eivenr,

2 's Jiffy/'3,

Patented January 19, 1904.

GEORGE L. BOTTUM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VACUUM AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM FOR HEATING;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,158, dated January 19, 1904. 1

Application filed May 5, 1902. Serial No. 105,869- (No model.) i i To all 1,071,017 it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. BOTTUM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum and Girculatory Systems for Heating, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part tension less than that necessary to generate steam under atmospheric pressure, so that the circulation may be maintained at temperatures at which ordinarily it is necessary to employ water as the circulating medium.

It consists in novel means 'of producing the vacuum or reduced tension in the return course of the circulatory system by the employment of means for generating steam and controlling its admission to a chamber where it is condensed to produce the vacuum.

\It consists, further, in the particular construction set out in the claims.

In' the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a structure forming part of the circulatory system embodying my invention, the repre-j sentation being partly diagrammatical that is, the elements being presented in an arrangement adapted to exhibit in a single view the entire circulation, regardless of convenience of actual construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation of the water-controlling valve, being similar also to the steam-controlling valve. (Not illustrated except in the general view, Fig. 1.) Fig. 3 is a detail elevation, partly sectional, showing a modified means of retaining the tension in the steam-vacuum and permitting the escape of air and drainage of water therefrom. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the several valves being shown in detail in section and the position and relation of the remaining parts of the structure being indicated by position, lines, and outlines only.

In the drawings I have shown a furnace 1, arranged in connection with a boiler or chamber in which water may be heated and which is hereinafter referred to as the boiler, although in the ordinary operation of the system it is not designed that the water should be heated to the normal boiling-point therein, such boiler being in circuit with a circulatory system represented by the outgo-pipe 3 and the return-pipe 4. I r

5 is asteam-generator that isto say, chamberin which steam may be generated, and the means shown for generating steam therein consist of a coil 6, exposed to the heat of the furnace connected in circuit by means of pipes? and 8 with the generator below the water-line of the latter, so that when the water is heated in the coil there will be established a circulation of the Water in endless current from the coil through the pipe 7 into the upper portion of the chamber 5 and from the lower portion through the pipe 8 back to the coil, such circulation continuing so long as there is suffi= cient difference between the temperature to which the water is heated in the coil and that of the water at the lower part of the chamber 5. In operation the temperature produced in the coil is designed to be such that the resulting temperature in the chamber 5 shall be sufficient to cause the space in saidchamber above the water-lever to be occupied by steam, which as fast as it is drawn upon or permitted to be discharged is replaced by fresh steam generated from the water, whose temperature is at all times high enough to vaporize at any pressure below the maximum which is maintained in the generator 5 when the discharge therefrom is closed. For purposes hereinafter explained said coil is also provided with connections by way of pipes 9 and 10 with the boiler or water-chamber 2, three-way valves 11 and 12 being provided at the points in the circuit at which the branches 9 and 10 lead, respectively, to and from the water-chamber, by

which the circuit may be shifted, so as to take in the generator by way of the pipes 7 and 8 or the boiler 2 by way of the pipes 9 and 10, according to the position of said valves.

13 is a steam receptacle'that is to i say, chamberwhich is adapted to sustain steampressure, a pipe 14, leading from the gener- IOO ator 5, being the means by which it is supplied with steam. 15 is a valve in this pipe to control the passage of steam to the receptacle. To the receptacle 13 a pipe 16 leads from the return-pipe 4 of the circulatory system.

It will be seen that if a vacuum is produced in the receptacle 13 such vacuum will extend to and affect the circulatory system at the return side, so as to cause circulation through the system without pressure above atmospheric in the water-chamber or boiler 2, because a partial vacuum will be produced in the water-chamber above the water, and such partial vacuum will cause the generation of vapor from the water at a temperature below the normal boiling-point, according to the degree of vacuum produced. For producing such vacuum I provide a cold-water-supply pipe 17, leading into the receptacle 13 and provided with a valve 18 to control the entrance of water therethrough. It will be understood that steam being admitted to the receptacle 13 and pressure above atmospheric being produced therein the subsequent admission of Water and the cutting off of steam causing condensation of the steam without further supply will produce the desired vacuum.

I connect with the chamber 13 adiaphragmchamber 19, whose diaphragm 20 is connected by suitable mechanism with the stem of valve 15, by which the steam entering the chamber 13 is controlled. To operate the water-controlling valve, I connect with the chamber 13 a similar diaphragm-chamber 21, whose diaphragm 22 is connected by proper mechanism with thestem of the valve 18. The connections are herein represented by levers and links; but I design this to be conventional and to indicate any suitable mechanism for causing the movement of the diaphragms, respectively, under the changes of tension in the chamber 13 to operate the valve in proper directions. The adjustment of the parts and the construction of the valves as to their ports and waterways is such that when a predetermined tension of steam-pressure is attained in the receptacle 13 the valve 18 will be opened by the action of the diaphragm 22, connected with it. The vacuum produced by the condensation of steam upon the entrance of water when the valve 18 is thus opened immediately causes the diaphragm 20 to close the steam-valve 15, shutting off the steam from the chamber 13. When the requisite degree of vacuum is attained by the condensation of the steam in the receptacle 13, the vacuum tension-4. 6., tension below atmospheric-resulting will cause reverse action of the water-controlling valve 18, closing said valve and shutting off the water. The vacuum thus produced operates throughout the circulatory system primarily on the return side to induce the circulation and the generation of vapor from water in the chamber 2 at temperature lower than normal boiling-point, and this action continues until by the gradual entrance of vapor into the chamber 13 the normal atmospheric tension is restored or the tension approaches atmospheric to a degree for which the weight 23 controlling the diaphragm 20 is adjusted, and thereupon the action of the diaphragm opens the valve 15, admitting the steam to the chamber 13. The steam thus admitted will force out the accumulated water of condensation and the additional water which was introduced to cause the condensation. To permit this result to follow without causing the water to be followed by the steam and the pressure to be lost, I furnish the steam-receptacle 13 with a water-discharge pipe 24, leading out from the bottom and upward to a height corresponding to the pressure which it is desired to attain in the receptacle 13 and leading thence down to a proper waste-discharge. To prevent return of water into the chamber when vacuum occurs, a check-valve 25 may be provided in the pipe 24, opening outward and seating in the reverse direction, and to prevent siphoning a vent 26 may be provided at the highest point in the waste-passage. This vent will serve the purpose also of permitting the escape of air from the chamber when steam is first admitted. A valve 27 may be provided at this point, which will usually be open, but which upon starting the apparatus may be closed after the air has been driven out of the chamber 13 and before there is an accumulation of water in the chamber sufficient to occupy the pipe 24 and close the entrance thereto to prevent the escape of steam. This valve may be dispensed with and the necessity for attention to it even in starting avoided by charging the chamber 13 with water, in the first instance, up to a level, such as is indicated by the dotted line 28 in Fig. l that is, with sufficient water to fill the pipe 24 nearly to the highest point when the pressure in the chamber is such as to force the water into the pipe. By this expedient the pressure first produced in the chamber will force the water into the pipe, as indicated, until the waterlevel reaches the entrancemouth of the pipe, and then the air in the chamber will escape in bubbles through the water, this continuing until the steam fills the chamber down to the water, whereupon the steam, tending to escape in the same manner as the air, will be condensed until water is accumulated sufficient to fill the pipe to the highest point and close the entrance-mouth thereof. No steam will escape through this pipe because the height of the pipe 24 will be, as stated, such as to .balance the desired maximum pressure to be attained in the chamber. and the diaphragms will act before this pressure is exceeded. I

When the devices above described operate as described to admit the steam to the chamber 13, the connection shown by the rod 35 from the lever 34, which is connected to the diaphragm 20 in the chamber 19, causes the s me movement of the diaphragm which opens th valve 15 for admitting the steam, as stated, to operate the valves 11 and 12 in direction to cause the hot-water current to pass through the coil 6 from and to chamber 5 for the purpose of maintaining the supply of steam for discharge into the chamber 13, the course of the water in such circulation being out of the chamber 5 by way of thevalve 12, pipe 8, coil 6, pipe 7, and valve 11 into the chamber 5. When in the opposite movement of the diaphragm the valve 15 is closed and there is no demand for steam to pass from the chamber 5 to the chamber 13 in order to avoid the excessive increaseof pressure in the chamber 5 which would result from the continuing circulation of the hot Water through the coil 6, it is desirable to change the direction of circulation, so as to cause the coil 6 to communicate with the water in the chamber 2, and the valves 11 and 12 are operated by the rod 35 in the opposite direction, so as to cause the current to pass from the lower part of the chamber 2 by way of the pipe 10, valve 12, pipe 8, coil 6, pipe 7, valve 11, and pipe 9 back to the upper part of said chamber 2.

Instead of the stand-pipe or pressure-pipe 24 to balance and maintain the pressure in the chamber there may be employed the device shown in Fig. 3, which consists of an expansion-valve 38, located in the discharge or waste pipe 24, which, however, in this construction will be only of sufficient height to accommodate this expansion device. In this expansion-Valve 29 is a carbon pencil suitably mounted in a socket 30 at the lower end, by Y which it is held erect within the cylindrical chamber of the device. The upper end of the carbon pencil is furnished with a valve-tip 31, adapted to seat upwardly in the downwardly-facing seat 32 and when seated to close the passage through the pipe. At normal temperature the length of the carbon pencil is such that the valve is 01f its seat when the passage is clear. When the steam is first admitted to the chamber 13, the air will be driven out past the expansion-valve without causingexpansion of the carbon pencil to seat the valve. When, however, the steam begins to pass out, it will heat the carbon pencil and cause the valve to become seated, and thus check the outgo of steam and retain the pressure in the chamber. When water is admitted to produce a vacuum in the chamber, a by-path pipe 33 admits a small quantity of water also to the expansion-valve chamber around the carbon pencil and cooling it contracts it, causing the valve to open. The

check-valve 25, however, will prevent any return movement either of air or water through the pipe 2 1 into the chamber, and the vacuum which the discharge of cold water into the chamber was intended to produce will be retained. When, however, the vacuum is reduced to the point'that causes the steam-valve to be opened and steam-pressure to be again admitted, that pressure will drive the water out through the check-valve 25 and past the expansion-valve 29,which is still open and will remain open so long as the water is pass- Y ing, but which will be closed again by the expansion of the carbon pencil as soon as the steam begins to pass. This action will be maintained in automatic succession, as described, throughout the repeated emptyings and fillings of the chamber 13. I

It willbe evident that the communication of the steam receptacle or chamber in which the partial vacuum is produced by condensation of the steam with thereturn-pipe of the circulatory system may be made in any part of the system not necessarily at a point near the boiler, but that communication by any unobstructed course between said steam-receptacle or vacuum-chamber and the air or vapor-space of the return-pipe, as distinguished from the space in such return-pipe, which may be occupied by the water of condensation on its return course, will meet the requirements of the structure for operation in the manner described.

I claim 1. In combination with a circulatory heating system in which the heating medium issues from and returns into a chamberin which it is heated, a steam generator distinct from such chamber; a steam-receptacle communicating at the upper part with the return-pipe of the system and also communicating with such generator; a valve which controls the latter communication; a steam-condensing water supply pipe leading to said steam-receptacle; a valve controlling the communication of the watersupply therewith; means operated by the tension in the steam-receptacle for opening the water-controlling valve and closing the steamcontrolling valve, said means being constructed and adapted to admit the condensing-water and to cut off the steam upon predetermined changes of tension in the steam-receptacle.

2. In combination with a circulatory heating system in'which the heating medium issues from and returns into a chamber in which it is heated, a steam-generator distinct from such chamber; a steam-receptacle communicating therewith and also communicating at the upper part with the return-pipe of said system;

a valve which controls the former communication; a steam-condensing water-supply pipe leading to the steam-receptacle; a water-controlling valve in the pipe, and means operated by excess of atmospheric pressure over the tension in the steam-receptacle for closing the water-supply pipe when a predetermined reduction of said tension below atmospheric is attained in said receptacle. I

3. In a circulatory heating system, in which the heating medium issues from and returns IIO into a chamber in which it is heated, in combination with such chamber and the returnpipe of such system, a steam-generator distinct from such chamber; a steam-receptacle communicating with such chamber, and also communicating at the upper part with said re turn-pipe; a valve which controls the former communication; a steam-condensing watersupply pipe leading to the steam-receptacle; a water-controlling valve in such pipe; means operated by the difference between atmospheric tension and the tension in the steamreceptacle for opening the steam-controlling valve when the tension in said receptacle rises toward atmospheric pressure, and for closing it when a predetermined reduction below atmospheric pressure is attained, and means also operated by the difference between the tension in said receptacle and atmospheric pressure, for opening the water-controlling valve after the steam controlling valve is opened, and for closing it upon a predetermined further reduction of tension in the receptacle below normal atmospheric pressure.

4. In a circulatory heating system in which the heating medium issues from and returns into a chamber in which it is heated, in combination with such chamber and the returnpipe of the system, a steam-generator distinct from the chamber; a steam-receptacle communicating with such generator; a valve which controls such communication; means operated by the difference between atmospheric pressure and the tension in the steam-receptacle for actuating the controlling-valve, said return-pipe being in communication with said receptacle; a water-supply pipe also communicating with the receptacle; a water-controlling valve therein; means operated by the difference between atmospheric tension and that in the receptacle for actuating the water-controlling valve to admit water to the receptacle when a predetermined pressure of steam is attained therein, and means for draining the water from said receptacle.

5. In a vacuum heating system a steam-generator and a steam-receptacle communicating therewith; a valve which controls such communication; a circulatory system communicating with 'said receptacle; means for producing ayacuum by condensation of steam in said receptacle; a furnace and a coil exposed to the heat thereof in circuit with the generator; and means operated by the tension in the steam-receptacle for controlling the circulation between such coil and the generator.

6. In a vacuum heating system a hot-water boiler and a circulatory system issuing therefrom and returning thereinto, a steam-generator; a furnace for heating the boiler; a coil exposed to the furnace in circuit with the generator and the boiler'and provided with valves to direct the circulation through either, according to the position of the valves; a steam-receptacle communicating with the generator, and a valve controlling such communication, a circulatory system leading from and back into the boiler, said system being in communication with said steam-receptacle; means for producing condensation of steam in the receptacle to cause vacuum therein; means operated by the tension in said receptacle for operating the valves to direct the circulation of the coil to the generator or boiler.

7. In a circulatory system of vacuum heating, in combinationwith the circulating-pipes of the system, aboiler in circuit with the pipes; a furnace for heating same; a steam-generator and a coil from the furnace in circuit with such steam-generator; connections from said coil by which it may be put in circuit with the boiler and valves which control the connections to cause the coil to be in circuit with either the steam-generator or the boiler, ac cording to the position of the valves; a steamreceptacle in communication with the steamgenerator and a valve which controls such communication, a water-supply pipe also communicating with the steam-receptacle and a Water-controlling valve therein; means operated by the tension in the receptacle for operating the valves to admit the Water thereto and cut off the steam therefrom, and connections by which the same valve-operating means operate the valves in the coil-circuit to shift said circuit from the generator to the boiler when the steam-controlling valve is closed, and from the boiler to the generator when said valve is opened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two Witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 12th day of April, A. D. 1902.

GEORGE L. BOll'cUM.

In presence of CnAs. S. BURTON, J. W. VVEs'rERLAND. 

